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So I bought my 92 735i about 4 months ago from someone who nearly ruined the car! Its been sitting for two years. Since day 1 it has never shifted right. I knew he replaced the transmission but had no idea what suprises I was in for. Since the purchase I fixed my valve cover leak, just needed a gasket, cleaned and fixed my switches, climate control, shifter, fuses and speed sensors.
During all of this I found there to be a sparkplug wire just hanging out, not even connected, A corroded speed sensor, Leaking radiator hose, Multiple ground wires dissconnected!!!!! And a plug that goes into the fuel injector wire harness rail dissconnected. (since then my oil pressure sensor warning went off). Since fixing all of this, my rough idle has mostly cleared up, I think I just need a good tune up for it to be perfected.
I think someone had it out for the PO because Its been shot at with a bb gun, has been keyed, and some one cut the ABS wire on the driver side back wheel, (they probably thought it was a brake line!) Lol.

NOW THE TRANSMISSION!!

The transmisson never wanted to shift out of 1st gear, would just rev to 5k rpm then roughly shift and squeel into 2nd. I had no idea what was going on or how to fix it! I tried changing the filter and fluid, speed sensor in the transmission, cleaned the contacts on the wires, and just over all inspected every wire I could.
I noticed the Trans had been rebuilt and looks in amazing shape for a pick n pull Trans!! It just didnt shift! Stumped I decided to pull a new valve body from pick n pull. When I dropped the current one out I noticed the prongs on my current valve body connector had 8 pins and 5 solenoids and the one I pulled had 7 pins and 4 solenoids. so I put my original back in thinking it was the wrong one even though it came from the same 4hp22. So I grabbed another valve body since I couldnt find another 8 pin valve body I grabbed another one with 7 pins. Luckily I still have the original trans that the PO gave me and noticed it had 7 pins, 4 solenoids too! Then I did some research about the TCM n how other people (not just BMW) had the same exact problems with the high revs and no shifting n how when they replaced the TCM it solved the problem. Well I grabbed a new TCM from pick n pull and it changed nothing, my hopes were shot at that point.
BTW: The TCM was located in the kick panel on the passenger side behind the speaker, in a little hole up above where it is not visible, at first. will post pics tomorrow.

So I researched some more about one thing that my car never showed, the trans program warning. Matter of fact I had no codes at all! I remembered that when in failsafe the shift lock solenoid doesnt activate. Today I pulled off the wood trim over the shifter then pulled my car out and bam! it didnt activate! So as my last resort I swapped the valve bodys, reused the fluid by straining it with a paint filter cleaned her up and started the car. Look down and the solenoid activated!
I then took it for a drive and then bam! It shifted!! The revs were around 3k and was hessitant at first but after driving around it got smoother. I just need to drive it more then change the fluid and filter again and put in some good fluid instead of the cheap stuff.

Moral of the story is The TCM couldnt communicate with the transmission because it had one too many solenoids, 8 pin connector causing it to go into failsafe with no warning on the dash or anything. the shift lock was the only clue. So the PO either pulled this trans from a different model, or who ever got it rebuilt did something completely wrong or something. When you swap a transmission or valve body you have to make sure they are exactly the same as whats already in your car!!

This is my first car, not only that, it is the first car I have ever worked on. So as a beginner if I can figure that complicated problem out on my own and fix it, so can anybody!!
Now all I need is to replace my catalytic converter, spark plugs and wires, and change all fluids and filters!!

Im lucky to have bought the car for $500, and to get tons of new filters, rotars, hoses, trim, switches, handles, electronics, breaks, drivelines, two sets of rims, etc. HAha his loss, my gain!!
Please pitch in on similar problems, stories, pics, etc! I wanna hear from all you 735i owners!!

I bought my 1990 735i BMW a few years ago; it drove like a dream and I never really had any issues with it !

Until one fateful day....

Due to a series of unfortunate events where fortunately no one was harmed...

My beautiful metallic forest green vehicle ended up being shifted into Neutral by a toddler and started rolling down my hill side driveway.

And Luckily..? The father who let the child into my car was able to quickly steer it away from the neighbors fence and straight onto a 2 1/2 to 3 foot high ornamental boulder next to the bushes about 15 feet down near a 90° degree bend in our driveway where it then rapidly changes to a steep 40°degree angle!

I came out of the house just in time to see my Bimmer hit head on into the boluder and then watched as the front end immediately seemed to leap into the air in "slow-mo" and as fast as it started the car came to an abrupt halt by slamming & jamming my precious tranny on top of that boulder!

And there it sat with 3 wheels up in the air balancing stubbornly on the transmission and the rear drivers side tire!

Once we got it down I started noticing what seemed like some minor shifting issues at times and then it started to slip when I would put it in reverse and not have much power or stop all togather and very soon after doing that a few times. .. it been started actually driving forwards while still in reverse!!

I would love to hear any input on the situation... Because I'd love to get the car back up and running right again ! :-)

I did talk to some guys who fix 90's bimmers and they said that it could just be some sort of lever that's gotten disconnected or a sensor that may be semi easy to fix..???